Drawing and beading mechanism



y 1950 E. F. MIDDLETON i ET m. 2,514,005

- DRAWING AND BEADINC MECHANISM Filed Jan. '29, 1948 4 Shets-Sheet 1 &

' 39 LZ Z x I I 5 I .39 E I Zhwentors a. 20 ANNIE-J l 794 /0fi470/V I may (Ittorneg y 1950 E. F. MIDDLETON ETAL 2,514,005

DRAWING AND BEADING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 29,' 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zinnentors y 4, 1950 v E. F. MIDDLETQN AF ,514,005

- (Ittomeg Patented July 4, 1950 OFFICE DRAWING ANIi BEADI-NG 'ME'oH-ANi slvl" Earl F. Middleton, New Rochelle alid Carl W. Middleton, Larchmont N. Y.

Applicationlanuary 29, 1948, Serial No. 5,114

8 Claims. 1

The. invention herein disclosed relates to a drawing and beading mechanism for drawing articles from sheet material and forming a head on the edge ofthewd-rawn article.

Certain articles formed in' a drawing operation are desirablyprovided with a beaded or turned over edge; Sucha beaded edge is especially desirable, for example, in cup or dish-shaped articles, such as boxes: or box covers. The bead provides a smooth edge to such'an article, enhances the-appearance of the article, and in addition reinforces the edge. This last mentioned factor is particularly important where the article is made of thin pliable materialr Heretofore; and prior toithe invention herein disclosed; such articles have been drawn and beaded in separate operations on different mechanisms. An object of this invention is to provide a mechanism. that draws or forms the article and in the same operation forms a bead'on the edge of the article .formed.'

The foregoingofbj'ect' and certain advantages tha'twill hereinafter appear are realized in the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail below from which" description a clearer understanding of the invention may be had.

The drawings include:

Fig. 1 which is a viewinelevation ona reduced scale of mechanism embodying th'is'invention';

Fig. 2 w'hicihisasectional elevation; onenlargedscale, of theupperhalf of the mechanism, taken on thelin'e 2'- 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 which is a sectional elevation, en enlarged scale, similar to that shown in Fig. 2 but showing the lower half of the mechanism shown in*-Fig. 1; the vi'ewbe'ing taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 which is a transverse section of the mechanism; taken on the line 4-4 of Fig; 1i

Fig; 5 which a side-elevation of the cam shown in Fig; 4; and

Figs; 6, 7' and 8 which' illustrate successive operations of the mechanism in drawing and beading an article.

The 'drawing'an'd :beading mechanism embody ing this invention isiprimarily concerned with thosexparts that effect Jthedrawing of an article and the-v beading of the edgerthereof. These parts may be actuated by pneumatic, hydraulic,

or mechanical actuating. mechanism properly connected thereto and interrelated to efiect a sequential operation of the several parts of the drawing andbeadingmechanism. Since such actuating-mechanismis: commonly applied to 2: 1 drawing and stamping pressesand' is well known in the art; theactuating mechanisnr' has been omitted from" the accompanying drawings in order to provide a clearer illustratioii of the essentials of the mechanisrn' embodying this in vention;

In general, the mechan is'in d isclosed in ,th'e ac companying drawing includes a stationary 'bottomor 'bedaplate I to which the drawing die 2 is secured as :by bolts 3* a movable punch 4 that is positioned -t" odoperait witn tne'dr'awing die; ar'ida bead iorming di ei5 w hich is arranged to cooperate with the-punch? In"-operation the punch and bead-forming die rneve dcwnwardi as 'a unit, tnei uncn entering the drawing-die: to draw a: sheet of material irito a dish shape; the completion"- of the drawing' operatiom the punch is r'etr'a'cted rel ative to the bead-forming die. The drawn article moves'with the unch and the edge th'ei eo'f'is tlirned' overor beadedby the bea'd fornii'rig dief neon the formatior-i -of the head, the punch and bead-forming die" retract together until then le moves out of the drawing die: Thereafter hedra-wr'i and b'ea'ded article is stripped-from the piinch; The mech a nism illustrated' in Figs: 1 to 3 efiects this opera tion'so that on a singlereciprocating" stroke: of the punch anarticle is drawn arid-beaded; v

The particular drawfng di'e illustrated i'sespe ci'ally suitable" for drawing cupor dish sh'ape'd articles, such as box top covers;froin' sheetsiof thermo=plastic material such as celluleseacetate. This die includesabase ring and' a draw-ing ni i g The ring l'has an ihfiei' extension 9 and a'n" outerrsl'roulder l 0-1 The drawing ring 8 is shaped as indicatedand engages the baser ing 'i only" at the endbftheinrfer- A -sion G and-the shoulder It. Aninsulating 'air spaced-I is thns prbvidd between-the rin'gsl and' flz Thering 8"is secured to the 'ring T'b-y machines'crewslt In drawing thermo plastic' sheets, it'-- is desirable" that i the drawing"ring;..particularly that portion indicated atlewhere: the drawing action is effected; be heated; Td-this end; electrical heating unit 14 is'received' in a'-'groove l5 'inthe'ring 8'. The rin'g'iilsis separated rfrom'the ring '7 except at the two points of contact in 'ord'er to minimize the transfer of heat =from the:ring=-f8 'to the 'ring 1 as' it is desirable-tocool the plastic as :soon' as the drawing-islefiecteda Th-e punch is providedwvith a recess I 6 -in the base thereof A stripper 'plate I! "is" received inthe recess; This" stripperiplate-f-is threa'ded:on the'end ofarod Which extends:intda cylinder l8; Within the? ylinder; apiston I S is i-secured' piece 30 and the plate 35.

with extends into and is slidable in a collet 25.

The collet 25 extends into an opening in the end of the bead-forming die and makes a forced fit therein. The bead-forming-die 51s hollow and receives the punch 4 in its retracted position. The edge of the bead-forming die is recessed at 26, which recess is complementary to the shape of the bead to be formed. One edge 21 is in contact with the side wall'of the punch; the other edge 28 constitutes a knife edge which, as i seen in Fig. 3, cuts through the sheet material,

indicated by the numeral 29, upon the completionof the drawing operation or drawing stroke of the punch 4. A cylindrical piece 30 surrounds the collet and extends into a recess formed in the end wall of the bead-forming die. The collet 25 and the piece are firmly secured together and to the bead-forming die. The end of the piece 30 is threaded internally and threaded on to an externally threaded, projection 3| formed on the end of the extension .22. A coil of copper tubing 30' is wound, helically about the piece 30. Cooling water is circulated through the tubing to prevent overheating of the punch.

The relation of the bead-forming die with respect to the punch, is controlled through a series of pins 32, four in number, symmetrically disposed about the axis of the punch. The pins extend through and are slidably mounted in the piece 30 and openings provided therefor through the end wall of the bead-forming die. These pins have heads 33 formed thereon which are received in recesses 34 formed in a plate 35 through which the pins extend. Springs 36 surround each pin and act between the end of the Movement of the pins inwardly relative to the bead-forming die moves the punch in a direction to move partially out of the bead-forming die. The springs 36 act in a direction to move the pins to a position in which the punch is or may be retracted within the bead-forming die.

The plate 35 is secured to another plate 31,

. which, like the plate 35, has an opening therethrough for the extension 22. The plate 31 is actuated to position the punch with respect to the bead-forming die through a cam 38 acting upon rods 39 (four in number) to which the plate 31 is secured by bolts 40. The rods 39 extend through bushings 4| secured in openings 42 in a plate 43. Desirably, each of'the rods is provided with a wear resistant end cap 44 which engages the cam. The cam is provided with a plurality of wedge-shaped cam surfaces 45, one for each post 39. The cam is rotatably mounted about a central element 46 mounted on the plate 43. A thrust bearing 41 acts between a plate 48 and the cam. A gear 49 is secured on the cam and meshes with a pinion 50 that is rotatably mounted on a pin 5| extending through the plate 48 and collet portions 52 and 53, one on each side of the pinion. A rack 54 engages the pinion and is held in en- 1 gagement therewith by a thrust roller 55 rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 56 secured in the plate 43. The rack may be driven pneumatically,

hydraulically or mechanically. Upon movement,

the rack actuates the pinion and through the pinion rotates the cam. In one position, the cam actuates the rods 39 to move the pins 32 to the position shown in Fig. 3. In the opposite position, the cam permits the rods and pins to be retracted so that the punch may move into the bead-forming die. The springs 36 maintain constant pressure on the late 35, and rods 39 so that the end caps 44 are always held against'the surface 45 of the cam 38.

Within the central piece 46 there is secured a rod 51. Bolts 58 secure the plates 43 and 48 together with cylindrical elements 46 and casting portions 52--53 and 59 therebetween. Bolts 58' extending through the plate 48, the central piece 46 and the plate 43 are threaded into an element 60 which receives and secures the cylinder I8 to the plate 43. All of the foregoing mechanisms with the exception of the drawing die forms a movable unit and is actuated through the rod 51. In effect, this mechanism may be designated as a movable head.

During the drawing operation, the sheet material, in the form of a continuous web, which is moved over the opening to the drawing die must be held firmly enough to prevent crinkling and allow suficient heat transfer, but loosely enough to allow the material to slip as the drawing proceeds. For this purpose there is provided a holddown plate Bi. This plate has secured thereto an annulus 62 which in effect forms'an inwardly extending flange. The annulus is secured to the plate by bolts 63. To the annulus, a hold-down ring 65 is secured by bolts 66. At the lower, outer edge of the hold-down ring 65, there is a circumambient cutter 31 which, as the hold-down ring moves into holding position, cuts a circular blank from the web. This blank, except for a small remnant cut by the edge 28, is drawn into the draw ring or die by the punch. An electrical heating unit 68 is embedded in a groove in the hold-down ring for supplying heat to the sheet material. The hold-down assembly just described is movable as a unit relative to the drawing die and the punch head. The operating levers for such hold-down plates are common and well known in the art.

All of the above named mechanisms are assembled within a drawing press.

In operation, the punch and bead-formingdie are related to the drawing die as illustrated in Fig. 6. A sheet of material is placed over the opening of the drawing die. This may be effected by feeding a continuous web through the machine intermittently. The first stage in the operation is to secure the sheet. To this end, the holddown plate moves toward the drawing die to hold the sheet against the drawing die and effect'the cutting of a circular blank through the cutter 61. At this stage of the operation the cam 38 is positioned so that the punch is in the position, with respect to the bead-forming die 5, illustratedin Fig. 7; that is, the punch is almost out of the bead-forming die, and the knife edge 28 of the bead-forming die'is positioned with respect to the punch, to cut the sheet material 29 when the punch has entered the drawing die to the full extent of the drawing to be effected. The plate 43 and with it the entire drawing head is then moved toward the drawing die,the punch entering the drawing die and drawing the material into a cup or dish-shape. When the drawing is completed and the sheet'cut by the knife edge. 28, the cam 38 is rotated to the position inenigma which the pins 32 are retracted-underthe-action of the springs 36. f

'I 'he punch-44s theIrf-orced upwardly into the bead-forming die by a plunger 66 which is secured on a rod 6? that may be actuated pneumatically, hydraulically or mechanically. During movement of the punch 'intothe-bead-forming die 5, the bead-forming. die" remains stationary. The drawn article moves with the punch and the edge thereof is forced into the beadforming reces 26 of the bead-forming die a'n'd cu'rled over toform thebead68.- Upon the formation 'of -the bead, the punch head moves'as a unit out of the bead-forming die a distance sufficient for the drawn and beaded article to be removed from the punch. Simultaneously with the retraction of the punch, air is admitted to the cylinder l8 beyond the piston i9, so as to cause the stripper plate I? to move out of the recess in the punch and strip the article from the punch. The cylinder is is then connected to exhaust and the spring 20 returns the stripper plate to the recess in the punch. The completed article is thus left on the top of the plunger 65', the top surface of which is now level with the surface of the drawing ring 8. As the holddown plate is retracted, a blast of air from the side blows the drawn article and remnant ring, out by the knife edge 28, from the press. The press is thus cleared and the mechanism is in position to repeat the cycle above described.

From the foregoing description of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that by this invention, there is provided a drawing and beading mechanism that is completely automatic in its operation and that effects the drawing of an article and the heading over of the edge thereof in a single stroke. Thus, there is a minimum of handling and a considerable saving is effected in the manufacture of such articles.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the details of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described above within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising a stationary drawing die having an opening therein, a movable punch arranged to cooperate with the stationary die and movable into the die for effecting a drawing operation, a bead-forming die having a bead-forming recess in the edge thereof cooperating with said punch, means for moving said punch and beadforming die simultaneously toward the stationary die, and means for effecting movement of the punch and a drawn article in the opposite direction relative to said bead-forming die.

2. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising a stationary drawing die having an opening therein, a movable punch arranged to cooperate with the stationary die and movable into the die for effecting a drawing operation, a bead-forming die having a bead-forming recess in the edge thereof about said punch and movable therewith toward the stationary die, and means for effecting movement of the punch and a drawn article relative to the bead-forming die after a drawing operation.

3. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising a stationary drawing die having an opening therein, a movable punch ar-- ranged to cooperate with-the stationary die and die with the punch during a drawing operation and 'related to thepunch so as to cut the mate- "rial atthe end of the drawing operation, and -m'eans'for retracting the punch and a drawn --art'iclerelative to said bead-forming die.

' 4. In a machine of the kind described, thecombination comprising a stationary drawing die having an opening therein, a movable punch arranged to cooperate with the stationary die and movable into the die for effecting a drawing operation, a bead-forming die about said punch and having a cutting edge for cutting the material operated upon and a bead-forming recess in the edge thereof, means for moving the punch and bead-forming die as a unit to effect a drawing operation and a. cutting of the material upon the completion of the drawing operation, means operative to release the punch and bead-forming die, and means for moving the punch and a drawn article relative to the bead-forming die to effect the formation of a bead.

5. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising a stationary drawing die having an opening therein, a movable head arranged to cooperate with said stationary die and including a punch movable into the die for effecting a drawing operation, a bead-forming die about said punch and having a cutting edge for cutting the material upon the completion of the drawing operation and a bead-forming recess in the edge thereof, means carried by the head for positioning the bead-forming die with respect to the punch during the drawing operation, means for releasing said positioning means, and means for retracting the punch and a drawn article relative to the bead-forming die.

6. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising a stationary drawing die having an opening therein, a movable head arranged to cooperate with the drawing die and including a punch movable into the die for effecting a drawing operation, a bead-forming die having a bead-forming recess in the edge thereof about said punch, movable rods engaging the punch, a cam acting upon the rods for positioning the bead-forming die with respect to the punch during the drawing operation, means for shifting the cam to relieve the punch, and means for retracting the punch and a drawn article relative to the bead-forming die.

7. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising a stationary drawing die having an opening therein, a movable head arranged to cooperate with the drawing die and including a punch movable into the die for effecting a drawing operation, a bead-forming die about said punch having a cutting edge and a bead-forming recess in the edge thereof, means for effecting conjoint movement of the punch and bead-forming die during the drawing operation, means positioning the bead-forming die relative to the punch to effect a cutting operation at the end of the drawing, means for releasing the positioning means, and means for partially retracting the punch and a drawn article relative to the bead-forming die.

8. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising a stationary drawing die having an opening therein, a, movable head arranged to cooperate with the drawing die and including a punch movable into the die for efiecting a drawing operation, a bead-forming die about said punch having a recess therein for the punch and a circumambient cutting edge and a bead-forming recess in the edge thereof, rods extending through said bead-forming die and engaging the punch, a movable cam acting on said rods to position the punch with respect to the bead-forming die during the drawing operation, means for moving the cam to release the rods, and means for moving the punch into the headforming die upon-t,he;comp1etion operation.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Weeks Mar. 2, 1926 Baum May 1, 1928 

